Adjustable ball cock valve



June 7, 1966 H. BAcHLl ETAL 3,254,665

ADJUSTABLE BALL COCK VALVE Filed April l, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f "H Ila?? i 1 im will 59 INVENTQRS 65 l H|| 39 #EFMA/v @ACH/J 55 A 52 EUGENEB. S/Ap/Ro 5y W V Tmc /4 7' TOR/VE Y June 7, 1966 H. BAcHLl ETAL.

ADJUSTABLE BALL COCK VALVE Filed April l. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l AV, l,l

INVENTOR5 UER/WAN BA CHL/ .United States Patent O 3,254,665 ADJUSTABLEBALL COCK VALVE Herman Bachli, Chicago, and Eugene B. Shapiro, Skokie,Ill., assignors to Chicago Specialty Manufacturing Co., Skokie, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,343 3 Claims.(Cl. 137-414) This invention relates to a new and improved type of ballcock.

`One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved means forcontrolling the ow of the -water supply t the flush -tank in refillingthe tank so that water to the tank will be shut off during the liushingoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide means which will providea quick reiill of the Hush tank and will reduce the refill time-appreciably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which saveswater, as in this device the water supply is blocked from flowing untilthe flush `tank is emptied in the flushing operation, at which time theflow of the water supply commences.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is easilyand readily attached to conventional Hush tanks and .which isinexpensive to manufacture and install.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which isrelatively silent in operation.

Other objects and advantages |will become apparent as this descriptionprogresses.

-In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section showing Itheapplication of this invention in a hush tank.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 2 2 of IFIG. 1,showing the position of the parts with the diaphragm seated to close theinlet of the water from the water source. A

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, showing the position ofthe parts with thediaphragm unseated,

thereby opening the inlet of the vwater and allowing the FIG. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary View partly in section, showing .the diaphragmseated and the inner tube closing the diaphragm opening.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. l.

FIG. 6 is a view taken on lines 6 6 of FIG. l, and

FIG. 7 is a view taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 2.

The conventional lflush tank .10 is provided at the bottom thereof with4the conventional discharge pipe `12 communicating with the toilet `bowl14. The overflow pipe communicates as at y18 with the discharge pipe 12.A flush ball 20 is adapted to seat on the flush valve seat 22 and saidliush ball is manually lifted by means of a trip lever handle 24operating a trip lever 2'6 connected to a wire link 27, in turnconnected torod 28 which is connected to the =ush ball 20. The rod 28 isguided by guide arm 30 mounted onthe overflow pipe 16. All of theforegoing is conventional.

The bottom of the iiush tank 10 is also provided with an opening 32which through a suitably fitting 34 supports a short water inlet pipe 36extending into the tank. The inlet pipe 36 connects and communicatesexteriorly of the flush .tank with Vthe conventional water supply pipe33. l

A housing generally indicated at 38 is supported on the inlet pipe 36.The housing 38 is formed preferably of two sections; lthe lower section39 has a central bottom portion 40 provided with a depending extension41. The extension has a central tubular portion 42 which is internallythreaded as at 43 for thereaded engagement with the external threads onvthe short inlet pipe 36. The depending extension 41 is also providedwith four equally ICC- spaced discharge outlets 46 exteriorly of thecentral tubular portion 42.

The lower section 39 of the housing has an internal annular ledge orseat 48 above the central bottom portion 40 and an annular wall S0extending upwardly thereof from which extend laterally triangular shapedears 52. A short collar 53 is secured to and surrounds the extension 41and terminates -below the extension but is spaced from the upper end ofthe fitting 34. The water passing downwardly through the four dischargeoutlets 46 ows into the flush tank 10, as .will `be subsequentlydescribed.

The upper section 54 of the housing 38 has a central recessed portion 55and an annular wall 56 which telescopes -within the lower lsection 39and clamps between it and the lower section an annular diaphragm 58 madepreferably of rubber. The diaphragm rests on the annular ledge or seat48 and extends across the internal diameter of the lower section andover the water inlet pipe 36 and renewable seat provided therefor. Itwill be noted that .the top of the water inlet pipe 36 terminates on thesame plane as the ledge or seat 48 so that the diaphragm when notactuated and in a fiat condition will rest on the ytop of the inlet pipe36. The diaphragm 58 is provided with a central opening 59.

The upper section 54 has a central boss 60 provided with a centralopening 62 communicating with the interior of the housing. The uppersection is also provided with laterally extending triangularly shapedears 64, identical to the ears 52 of the lower section, and all saidears have cooperating threaded bores engaged by threaded bolts 65 forholding the two sections 39 and 54 ltogether and for retaining thediaphragm 58 in position. The two sections form an upper chamber abovethe diaphragm, designated by the numeral 66, anda lower chamber 68 belowthe diaphragm.

Fixedl-y secured to the upper section 54 is a rigid tube 70 whichextends into the central boss opening 62 and is secured thereto. Thetube 70 extends upwardly into .the interior of the flush tank. The upperend of the tube 70 is internally .threaded to receive a cap generallyindicated at 71. The cap has a red-uced threaded portion 72 inengagement with the threaded opening and an enlarged porrtion 7:3extending above the top of the tube. The cap has a central opening 7-5therethrough which liares outwardly as at 76 at the upper end thereof.

A supporting ring 78 is secured to the interior of the y tube 70 belowand in spaced relation to the lower end of the cap 71 to provide anintervening space therebetween. A rocker valve member generallyindicated at 80 has a stem 81 which extends through the opening 75, withthe lower enlarged head or valve portion 82 positioned below the cap 71and adapted to rest onthe ring 78. As will be explained more fullyhereinafter, the valve 80 is operated to open and close positions in theoperation of the device.

Movably supported inside the tube 70 is a smaller tube 84 which can movebetween the top of the diaphragm 58 and the collar 78. It encircles thediaphragm opening 59 and acts as an anti-Siphon. It prevents water fromthe flush tank from passing downwardly through the diaphragm opening 59and entering the water inlet pipe 36. A helical coil spring 86 ispositioned inside the upper chamber 66 around tube 84 between the top ofthe housing and the diaphragm 58 and is adapted to bear against thediaphragm.

Loosely and slidably mounted on tube 70 is a vertically movable tube 88which is adapted to be actuated by a float 89. The movable tube 88 inturn operates the valve member 80. The upper portion of tube 88 isinternally threaded as at 90 to receive a threaded plug 91 having anangularly inclined lower surface 92 which is adapted to engage the pin81 of valve member 80 for tilting same and for unseating the valve head82, as shown in FIG. 3. The plug has a slot 93 across the top thereoffor receiving a screwdriver or the like to effect rotation of same andadjust the plug member. Also accommodated in the upper end of tube 88 ismember 94 which is threaded as at 94 for engagement with tube 88. Member94 has an enlarged head 94a engageable by the tioat member 89. Member 94is adjustable relative to the tube 88.

Secured to the lower end of tube 88 is an adjustable collar 95 which isslidable on tube 88 and is held in any adjusted position by a set screw96. Encircling movable tube 88 is the hollow float member 89 providedwith an opening 97 closed by a removable plug 98, whereby the oat maybelled with water or any other Weight rnaterial as desired and closed. Thefloat 89 moves up or down in the liush tank to correspond to the levelof the water in the ush tank. When the tloat rises and engages the head94a of member 94 it will raise with it the slidable tube 88 so that theinclined surface 92 of plug 91 is out of engagement with the pin 81,permitting the valve head 82 to be seated against the underside of cap71 and block the egress of liquid from the tube 7i).

As the water in the ush tank 10 drops due to flushing, the oat member 89moves down causing tube 88 to drop or descend with it. When it descendsso that the slanted surface 92 engages the pin 81 it will tilt the pinand unseat the valve head 82 from the underside of cap 71, as shown inFIG. 3. The liquid in tube 7() and in the upper chamber 66 will escapethrough the top of tube 70, reducing the pressure on the diaphragm 58and permitting the diaphragm to move upwardly, as in FIG. 3, due to thepressure of water coming in through the water supply pipe 33. The waterentering through the water supply pipe 33 will pass through inlet pipe36 and will pass through the lower chamber 68 and into and through thefour outlets 46 to be discharged into the liush tank 10 to fill same. Asthe water lls the tank the float 89 rises and moves the inclined surface92 of plug 91 away from pin 81.

A sufficient amount of water will enter the tube 70 throughdiaphragmopening 59 so that when the inclined surface 92 of plug 91 moves awayfrom pin 81 the water pressure in the tube 70 will push the valve head82 upwardly against the bottom of cap 70 to seat and close the top ofthe tube and prevent any outflow of water therefrom. As soon as the tube70 and upper chamber 66 are filled with water the diaphragm valve 58will assume the position in FIG. 2 and block off the inflow of waterthrough the' water supply and water inlet pipe and stop the inflow intothe water tank. The water tank by this time is filled and ready forushing. When flushed the float 89 descends and the cycle is repeated.

The upper and lower limits of movement of the float member 89 relativeto tube 88 can be adjusted, thereby regulating the timing of the startand shut-off of the flow of water. The plug 91 also may be adjusted. Thespring 86 will facilitate the seating of the diaphragm. When thediaphragm is in seated position to block the flow of water to the tankthe tube 84 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 to encircle the diaphragmopening 59 and prevent water in the tank 10 from siphoning into tube 70,upper chamber 66, and into water inlet pipe 36.

With the present invention the ush tank is quickly refilled. The refilltime is reduced from approximately two minutes with conventionalconstructions to about oneminute. Also, the tlow of the water supply isblocked until the Water tank has completed the flushing operation andthe tank is emptied. At that time the water supply commences to enterthe ush tank, thus, there is no waste of water. The device operatessilently. It is easy and economical to install in any standard flushtank and is inexpensive to manufacture.

It IWill be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade from the foregoing without departingy from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l 1. Control means for a flush tank, comprising a housing having Waterinlet means, a diaphragm within said housing dividing same into upperand lower chambers, an outlet communicating with said lower chamber,said diaphragm having an opening communicating the said water inletmeans with the upper chamber to allow the water from the water inletmeans into said upper chamber while said diaphragm blocks the flow fromsaid inlet means, an outlet from said upper chamber, a stationarytubular member connected to said upper chamber outlet and extendingupwardly thereof to receive the -water from said upper chamber, valvemeans adjacent the upper end of said stationary tubular member forclosing the outlet at the upper end of said stationary tubular member, asecond tubular member surrounding said stationary tubular member andmovable vertically with respect thereto, said second tubular memberhaving an adjustable member at the upper end thereof, said adjustablemember having an inclined lower surface adapted to engage said valvemeans to operate same to open position, another adjustablemember on saidsecond tubular member above said first mentioned adjustable member, afloat member positioned around said second tubular member andoperatively connected through said second mentioned adjutable member sothat said second tubular member moves with said oat member, said firstmentioned and second mentioned adjustable members each beingindependently adjustable.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the valve means includes aprojection extending upwardly thereof to be engaged by the inclinedsurface on said lirst mentioned adjustable member.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the second adjustable memberincludes a manually engageable knob extending above the top of saidsecond tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,536 5/1956Buckner 137-432 X 3,135,287 6/1964 Kepka et al. 137-432 X 3,144,8748/1964 Goldtrap 137--414 3,144,875 8/1964 Goldtrap 137-414 FOREIGNPATENTS 153,027 8/1952 Australia.

ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner.

D. DONOVAN, D. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiners.

1. CONTROL MEANS FOR A FLUSH TANK, COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING WATER ININLET MEANS, A DIAPHRAGM WITHIN SAID HOUSING DIVIDING SAME INTO UPPERAND LOWER CHAMBERS, AN OUTLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LOWER CHAMBER,SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATION THE SAID WATER INLETMEANS WITH THE RESPECT CHAMBER TO ALLOW THE WATER FROM THE WATER INLETMEANS INTO SAID UPPER CHAMBER WHILE SIAD DIAGPHRAGM BLOCKS THE FLOW FROMSAID INLET MEANS, IN OUTLEWT FROM SAID UPPER CHAMBER, A STATIONARYTUBULAR MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER CHAMBER OUTLET AND EXTENDINGUPWARDLY THEREOF TO RECEIVE THE WATER FROM SAID UPPER CHAMBER, VALVEMEANS ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER FORCLOSING THE OUTLET AT THE UPPER END OF SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER, ASECOND TUBULAR MEMBER SURROUNDING SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER ANDMOVABLE VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBERHAVING AN ADJUSTABLE MEMBER AT